In brief

Cambria’s Veterans Day event may trigger more giggles and guffaws than might be considered customary at an event honoring those in the military now and those who have served before.

North Coast residents and visitors will gather at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, for the ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Building, 1000 Main St.

The event is hosted by American Legion Post No. 432. The post’s log includes 42 active-duty military members with ties to Cambria, San Simeon or Cayucos.

Vietnam veteran Greg Sanders said his keynote speech is going to focus on military humor, so it “is going to be a little different and off-beatThere is a rather unique brand of humor produced in military situations, some of which is hilarious” for veterans and non-military alike.

The event is expected to last about an hour or so. A limited number of chairs will be available, so those who have folding chairs at home are encouraged to bring them.

Representatives of each military branch will post their service flags at the Veterans Memorial Building flag stand. Jerry Demorest is to sing the national anthem.

After the ceremonies, Sons of the American Legion will provide barbecued burgers and hot dogs; a donation of $5 is requested for the meal, including soda, chips and dessert. For details, call 927-1919.

The Cambria American Legion Post 432 Troup Support Unit (TS2) has again kicked off its annual drive to involve the local community in providing Christmas and holiday gifts for our local men and women serving in the military. This program involves sending our service members in Afghanistan and Iraq gift boxes that include snacks, food seasonings, American flags, squirt guns, DVDs and CDs. In exchange for a donation of $10, to cover shipping, the Legion supplies a box and a list of suggested gifts and supplies. Once filled, the unsealed box may be returned to a Matter of Taste. For a donation of $30 (the most popular choice), the American Legion does the shopping, packing, and shipping. On Nov. 20, approximately 75 local students will participate in the packing over 10,000 individual items.

Donations of any amount may be mailed to the Cambria American Legion, at P.O. Box 697, Cambria 93428. Checks should be made out the American Legion Post No. 432 and have “TS2” in the memo section.

For details, contact Ron Waltman at 927-3735 or legionpost432@charter.net.

The annual Festival of Trees live and silent auction.

Once again the Cambria Chamber of Commerce will host the event that traditionally kicks off the high holiday season in Cambria. Doors to this year’s event open at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1. Tickets are priced the same as last year, $20, including live entertainment, a holiday buffet of taste treats from most of Cambria’s restaurants and fine wines from the Central Coast.

Attendees may bid on silent auction items donated by local businesses and decorated trees and wreaths made by creative Cambria citizens. All proceeds from the sale of the trees and wreaths benefit local nonprofit organizations.

Tickets are on sale at the chamber office, 767 Main St. Anyone wanting to donate a tree or wreath to benefit their favorite nonprofit or communityorganization may call 927-3624 for information.

The 14th annual Community Ecumenical Advent Musical Program is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, at CommunityPresbyterian Church, 2250 Yorkshire Drive. More than 50 members of the Baptist, Calvary Chapel, Catholic, Christian Science, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Vineyard churches, and other community residents, present choral, solo, and instrumental music, liturgical dance andScripture readings to celebrate the four-week Advent season. Santa Rosa Catholic Church hosted the previous 13 programs.

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (this year, Nov. 28) and ends on Christmas Eve. Admission is free, including refreshments after the program.

Hospitality Night is set for the following night, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2. Highlights of Cambria’s annual Village Open House include Santa, tree lighting ceremonies, carolers and magicians, along with decorations, food, fun and festivities everywhere in East and West villages.

Pictures with Santa and also the Town Criers add to the merriment.

Businesses will open their doors, offering refreshments, drawings, prizes and specials.

The Cambria Village Trolley will also be available along Main Street throughout the evening.

For more information, call the Cambria Chamber of Commerce at 927-3624 or go to www.cambriachamber.org.

The Cambria Community Children’s Party is set for 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, in the Pinedorado Grounds by the Veterans Memorial Building at 1000 Main St.

Sponsored by the American Legion, Lion’s Club and Community Council, the free party offers visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, clowns, games, puppet shows, hot dogs, popcorn, hot chocolate, candy canes and balloons.— Staff

Student to take school board seat

When NorthCoast school officials meet Thursday, Nov. 18, they’ll add a young member to their board.

Ian Cocroft, a junior at Coast Union High School, was selected by members of the Associated Student Body to represent his peers on the Coast Unified School District’s board.

That panel had unanimously approved in August the concept of a nonvoting student representative, but had to wait for the ASB electionbefore the new member could be sworn in.

“I’ve been pushing for years to get a student board member, so I’m really excited,” said board President Dianne Brooke.

“Ian’s probably the absolute best candidate for that position. He’s long been excited about the political arena and enthusiastic about being the voice of the students. He’s a very astute young man who’s not afraid to speak his mind. He really looks into things before he forms an opinion. I think he’s an accessible enough kid to the other students, and he’ll voice their concerns well.”

The meeting is to begin at 7 p.m. at the Old Grammar School, 1350 Main St.

Although the meeting’s agenda wasn’t set at press deadline, officials expected that items to be discussed could include a report on student testscores, a public hearing on 2009-2010 expenditures (due annually 45 days after the governor signs the state’s budget) and a public hearing on categorical funding for 2010-2011.

— Kathe Tanner

County clerk still tallying ballots

Updated election results released Friday afternoon, Nov. 5, did not change the apparent winners in three North Coast races.

The county’s Elections Division had counted an additional 378 ballots in the closest of the contests, for a seat on the Cambria Community Services District board, but still had 164 to tally.

Remaining ballots in the services district race included 47 vote-by-mail or “absentee” ballots, 84 provisional ballots taken at the polls and 33 that had been damaged and couldn’t go through the counting machines.

The Elections Division also had 341 ballots countywide that hadn’t been identified yet by district or precinct.

Candidate Michael Thompson had held onto first place in that race with 1,546 votes. Harry Farmer had 1,237 votes.

County Clerk-Recorder Julie Rodewald said late Monday that no additional counting was done that day (they were verifying provisional ballots).

Her intent is to have the final count complete by Thanksgiving, but to have all ballots tallied sooner, perhaps by the end of this week.

As of Friday afternoon, updated but not complete totals in the Cambria Community Healthcare District election for three seats were: John Headding, 2,213, Frank Fratto, 1,853; Bob Putney, 1,651; Runo Lemming, 1,271; and Jeff Miller, 741.

In the Coast Unified School District election for two seats: Dianne Brooke, 2,335; Del Clegg, 2,182; Lee Chamberlain, 1,776; and Gretchen Ross, 1,211.

—Kathe Tanner

School seeks rummage sale donations

Donations of rummage sale items are needed to help send grammar school students to science camp. Baked goods, craft items, housewares, clothing,furniture and morewill be sold from 8:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. Saturday,Nov. 20, at Cambria GrammarSchool, 3223 Main St.Proceeds will help pay forfourth-grade trips to RanchoEl Chorro ScienceCamp.Sale items may be donatedfrom 3 to 6 p.m.Thursday and Friday, Nov.18 and 19, in front of theschool auditorium. Organizersask that no brokenitems or computer partsbe donated.—Bert Etling

Football game moved up two days

The Coast Union HighSchool football game at OrangeCove will be played at7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10,instead of Friday, Nov. 12,as originally scheduled.Orange Cove officialsasked that the game bemoved up due to school beingout for Veterans Day,Nov. 11. The game will beheard live on KTEA-FM(103.5) and stream live onwww.ktea-fm.com.— John FitzRandolph,special to The Cambrian